Posts tagged “just write”

Continuing with the comfort food theme, Arleen McC made this delicious cake when I visited in the fall. It was so lovely and rich. Here is a double chocolate cake recipe by Ina Garten. So think about cakes ( I know MMM, you prefer pie and Rob B what about you, certified pie taster?) but what is your basic cake preference?

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting?

Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting?

Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting?

Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Frosting?

Granted we know there are Martha Washington and Hummingbird cakes, Pound cakes and cheesecakes and Orange or Lemon, Almond and Spice, Marble and Boston Creme Pie……Today I am thinking basic combinations.

And Mark your birthday is coming up and I know that Angel Food Cake is your first choice. No icing. You didn’t even like the frosting when you were one!

Cupcakes are all the rage in a lot of places these days but my sister says the amount of frosting is disproportionate to the amount of cake which is the part she likes to eat. We have all seen kids at birthday parties eat all the frosting and leave the cake part untouched or vice versa. There are lines around the block like waiting for tickets to a rockstar concert at Magnolia’s in Greenwich Village on Bleecker Street.

Just last week Laura baked a classic 1-2-3-4 cake with vanilla icing for her Mom-in-Law 2B and it was well received.

Finish the meal–
wait a bit.
Not many folks
keep a layer cake on hand.
It is usually a special occasion.
I like to serve dessert
on my grandmother’s glass plates.
The addition of fresh berries
and or ice cream can’t hurt!

Some blog readers say they just look at my picture of the day and don’t bother reading what I write. They are “visual”.

The saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is debatable some days. The number varies. On Thursday, a freshly pressed blogger suggested using photos you find on blogs to inspire writing and mentioned my blog as a resource which was flattering. I love the idea of my photos being a writing prompt.

The New York City sidewalk image of the pizza box and the pair of shoes was a recent example that triggered some one-sentence short story writing!

Today’s post is experimenting with a new feature- distraction free writing- initiated by smart people at wordpress.com. I’m checking it out even if everyone stopping by is just looking at the photo of the day!

This baked pasta recipe was in the newspaper more than four years ago and I have been making it ever since. I haven’t looked at the recipe in a long time but decided to search my email and the year 2007 came up. I also discovered the author of the recipe was Jamie Oliver. Four years ago I didn’t even know who Jamie Oliver was. Since it is his recipe I will send you tohis page to find it and he calls it baked pasta with tomatoes and mozzarella (pasta al forno con pomodori e mozzarella)

My mother always said to buy the best ingredients and do as little to them as possible. The best ingredients you need are fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (no green-can-shaker-cheese!).

You can make the sauce in about twenty minutes and use the best quality San Marzano tomatoes just as he suggests. I’ve made it with fresh tomatoes, too.

This photograph was taken in my daughter-in-law’s (and son’s) kitchen. My son says don’t call the pasta “little ears” (orecchiette) as it grosses him out. “Call it pasta. Just plain pasta.” The four grandchildren call it pizza noodles!

And if there are any leftovers, it tastes even better the next day.

Comfort food.
Different choices
for different people
and occasions.
Chilly and rainy?
Bake and cook.
Eat!